Hiraeth Hill
@hiraethhill.bsky.social
Field notes from my home
certified one woman wildlife sanctuary in the Welsh hills of PA
can occasionally communicate with crows, turkeys, & largely trunked oaks.
I learn things, make shit, & write about it
Authentic > Artificial Intelligence
certified one woman wildlife sanctuary in the Welsh hills of PA
can occasionally communicate with crows, turkeys, & largely trunked oaks.
I learn things, make shit, & write about it
Authentic > Artificial Intelligence
Kept shoveling the deck and used picnic tables as mini shelters for the birds and placed seed under each level
January 26, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Kept shoveling the deck and used picnic tables as mini shelters for the birds and placed seed under each level
So many dark eyed juncos and white throated sparrows spend the winter in my brush piles. I set up a mini feeding tent with an overturned sled during the heaviest hour of the storm when I couldn’t get to the far feeders to clear the snow yet.
January 26, 2026 at 10:21 AM
So many dark eyed juncos and white throated sparrows spend the winter in my brush piles. I set up a mini feeding tent with an overturned sled during the heaviest hour of the storm when I couldn’t get to the far feeders to clear the snow yet.
Spent the entire day yesterday shoveling leaf litter to expose for the birds and refilling feeders/bird baths during the 8degree snow storm. 2 of my wild turkeys came to say hello too 🥹 and forage anything the crows left behind
January 26, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Spent the entire day yesterday shoveling leaf litter to expose for the birds and refilling feeders/bird baths during the 8degree snow storm. 2 of my wild turkeys came to say hello too 🥹 and forage anything the crows left behind
Native plants: Cardinal flower, Beardtounge, Milkweeds, Echinacea prepped and ready for winter sowing. All seeds were collected from my 2025 garden. I’ll do more planting during the upcoming snowstorm. Yes you can garden even in blizzards. #garden2026
January 24, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Native plants: Cardinal flower, Beardtounge, Milkweeds, Echinacea prepped and ready for winter sowing. All seeds were collected from my 2025 garden. I’ll do more planting during the upcoming snowstorm. Yes you can garden even in blizzards. #garden2026
Winter sowed my seeds yesterday. I put 3 inches of fresh snow on top of each before I sealed them up. #garden2026
January 24, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Winter sowed my seeds yesterday. I put 3 inches of fresh snow on top of each before I sealed them up. #garden2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Yesterday I made #KingArthurBakingCompany “Our Favorite Coffee Cake” and wow it is the best fluffiest cinnamon cake we have ever had. Used their flour. Definitely making again! The boys and I ate so much of it already.
January 23, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Yesterday I made #KingArthurBakingCompany “Our Favorite Coffee Cake” and wow it is the best fluffiest cinnamon cake we have ever had. Used their flour. Definitely making again! The boys and I ate so much of it already.
Update: the bread machine whole wheat bread did not turn out well. Too much liquid, it rose to fast and collapsed early. Edible but ugly and hard crust.
January 23, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Update: the bread machine whole wheat bread did not turn out well. Too much liquid, it rose to fast and collapsed early. Edible but ugly and hard crust.
Prepping for the incoming blizzard in Pennsylvania by making more bread. Using my bread machine today, a recipie from “Bread Machine Magic” (1992) & #KingArthurBakingCompany Whole Wheat flour. I only use their flour or my local Amish flour because they are employee owned. I’d love to mill my own.
January 22, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Prepping for the incoming blizzard in Pennsylvania by making more bread. Using my bread machine today, a recipie from “Bread Machine Magic” (1992) & #KingArthurBakingCompany Whole Wheat flour. I only use their flour or my local Amish flour because they are employee owned. I’d love to mill my own.
Took a break from gardening because of the extreme low temps the past two days so I pin basted a quilt top I am hoping to finish this weekend.
January 21, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Took a break from gardening because of the extreme low temps the past two days so I pin basted a quilt top I am hoping to finish this weekend.
My round 1 winter sowing seeds for #garden2026
January 21, 2026 at 6:56 PM
My round 1 winter sowing seeds for #garden2026
It snowed! This afternoon my 2 year old filled 14 milk jugs for me with the soil mix I made for winter sowing. Tomorrow I’ll sow the native seeds, scoop 3 inches snow onto each, and close the top tape and label them all then set them out in the yard for a few months. #wintersowing #garden2026
January 19, 2026 at 9:21 PM
It snowed! This afternoon my 2 year old filled 14 milk jugs for me with the soil mix I made for winter sowing. Tomorrow I’ll sow the native seeds, scoop 3 inches snow onto each, and close the top tape and label them all then set them out in the yard for a few months. #wintersowing #garden2026
Watching my hubs free the trees of invasive oriental bittersweet and honeysuckle vine post sledding. We got over 10 inches this weekend.
January 19, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Watching my hubs free the trees of invasive oriental bittersweet and honeysuckle vine post sledding. We got over 10 inches this weekend.
This weeks update: fertilized the hydroponic garden, prepped my winter sowing soil with 1 pt miracle grow potting mix and 1pt local nursery potting soil. Left bags out in moist cold to dampen soil all through. Will plant native seeds winter sowing round 1 using mix today. #garden2026
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
This weeks update: fertilized the hydroponic garden, prepped my winter sowing soil with 1 pt miracle grow potting mix and 1pt local nursery potting soil. Left bags out in moist cold to dampen soil all through. Will plant native seeds winter sowing round 1 using mix today. #garden2026
Working on ordering my seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery. This is my current incomplete list. I am focusing on early spring bloomers to complete my PSU pollinator certification.
January 11, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Working on ordering my seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery. This is my current incomplete list. I am focusing on early spring bloomers to complete my PSU pollinator certification.
Cleaned, cut, and labeled 12 milk jugs today for winter sowing round 1. I found this in my art stash so I am trying an Oil-based paint sharpie this year. Fellow gardeners tell me oil based art markers withstand the elements better than sharpies. My sharpies came out last year in a few weeks of snow
January 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Cleaned, cut, and labeled 12 milk jugs today for winter sowing round 1. I found this in my art stash so I am trying an Oil-based paint sharpie this year. Fellow gardeners tell me oil based art markers withstand the elements better than sharpies. My sharpies came out last year in a few weeks of snow
Cleaned my milk jugs and poked drainage holes in them for winter sowing. I used a hot glue gun (on without glue stick) to hot poke drainage holes. This was way faster and safer than my usual stabbing with a kitchen knife or using a drill. An elder gardener taught me that this year. #garden2026
January 11, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Cleaned my milk jugs and poked drainage holes in them for winter sowing. I used a hot glue gun (on without glue stick) to hot poke drainage holes. This was way faster and safer than my usual stabbing with a kitchen knife or using a drill. An elder gardener taught me that this year. #garden2026
In search of used Juliette de Baïracli Levy books.
January 11, 2026 at 12:49 PM
In search of used Juliette de Baïracli Levy books.
We later in a row of native elderberries along the slope to help with erosion prevention. We have at least 3”johns” and 3”adam” transplanted from my local Amish nursery. I plan on using them for live staking in Feb to clone them along more slope woodland edge. The wildlife love them, I collect berry
January 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
We later in a row of native elderberries along the slope to help with erosion prevention. We have at least 3”johns” and 3”adam” transplanted from my local Amish nursery. I plan on using them for live staking in Feb to clone them along more slope woodland edge. The wildlife love them, I collect berry
A little sneak peek of my native meadow last summer after I spent a ton of time hand pulling the invasives out. The forester recommended a pre-emergent for the spring but I still haven’t decided on it. Hand pulling has been fine so far. I only broke 2 bones.
January 10, 2026 at 9:59 PM
A little sneak peek of my native meadow last summer after I spent a ton of time hand pulling the invasives out. The forester recommended a pre-emergent for the spring but I still haven’t decided on it. Hand pulling has been fine so far. I only broke 2 bones.
I also went through all of my collected seeds and made a list of what I have. I usually attend a community seed swap end of January and will trade some packets then. Some packets I’ll use for winter sowing, indoor starts, but most will be gifted to friends and family or chaos gardened in my meadow
January 10, 2026 at 9:53 PM
I also went through all of my collected seeds and made a list of what I have. I usually attend a community seed swap end of January and will trade some packets then. Some packets I’ll use for winter sowing, indoor starts, but most will be gifted to friends and family or chaos gardened in my meadow
Some of the new seeds I got today at my local nursery. #garden2026
January 10, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Some of the new seeds I got today at my local nursery. #garden2026
Went to my local nursery today and got their store mix potting mix for my winter sowing round #1. I also grabbed a few #Burpee and #LakeValley seed packets as those were the only in stock so far. The employee was opening seed shipments as I browsed and said more should be in next week. #garden2026
January 10, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Went to my local nursery today and got their store mix potting mix for my winter sowing round #1. I also grabbed a few #Burpee and #LakeValley seed packets as those were the only in stock so far. The employee was opening seed shipments as I browsed and said more should be in next week. #garden2026
Setting up the greenhouse today for winter sowing. I’ll stop by the nursery for more potting soil and spring ephemeral seeds. #garden2026
January 10, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Setting up the greenhouse today for winter sowing. I’ll stop by the nursery for more potting soil and spring ephemeral seeds. #garden2026
Use today’s warm weather to ethically steal your favorite native seeds from literally anywhere you can reach except for those protected places and endangered species and oh never take more than 1/3. Carry on 🌞 #seedsaving
Also, brown paper bags!!!! Throw that shit right in there seed head and all!
Also, brown paper bags!!!! Throw that shit right in there seed head and all!
January 8, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Use today’s warm weather to ethically steal your favorite native seeds from literally anywhere you can reach except for those protected places and endangered species and oh never take more than 1/3. Carry on 🌞 #seedsaving
Also, brown paper bags!!!! Throw that shit right in there seed head and all!
Also, brown paper bags!!!! Throw that shit right in there seed head and all!